Juan-Blasco, M., Verdú, M.J., & Urbaneja, A. 2008 Depredacion del piojo rojo de California, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), por fitoseidos depredadores. [Predation of the California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), by predatory mites]. . Boletin de Sanidad Vegetal, Plagas 34(2): 187.

Notes: For our knowledge, there are few studies about the role of phytoseiids (Acari: Phytoseiidae) preying on Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) crawlers. The aims of the present work were to study in laboratory the development of three of the most abundant phytoseiids in citrus in Spain, Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Typhlodromus phialatus Athias-Henriot, and of the recently introduced and released in Spain, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, feeding exclusively on A. aurantii crawlers. Furthermore, the ability of A. swirskii to reduce A. aurantii infestation on young citrus plants was studied under semi-field conditions by means of augmentative releases of this phytoseiid. Females of E. stipulatus were the only phytoseiid species tested which were not able to lay eggs on this prey. The progeny of N. californicus were not able to reach the development, from egg to adult preying exclusively on this prey. In the semi-field experiments, several doses of A. swirskii were tested. Once the phytoseiids were installed on the young trees, an artificial infestation of A. aurantii crawlers was promoted in each citrus plant. A significant reduction of A. aurantii infestation was observed on those trees where A. swirskii was previously released.